We asked Brad Linn, Director, to tell us more about Cackamas Web Academy. Here’s what we learned:
Q: What’s one innovation or tool you’ve implemented that has made a significant impact on your students or staff?
A: One of the most impactful innovations we’ve implemented at Clackamas Web Academy is our Advisory Model, which engages students, families, and staff in ongoing, structured collaboration. Unlike a traditional advisory, this model creates biweekly opportunities for students to meet with their advisor and family members to review progress, set goals, and reflect on learning, while staff work in parallel to align supports. By intentionally centering family voices alongside student and teacher input, the model not only strengthens academic accountability but also builds agency, trust, and belonging.
Q: What’s a success story from your program that you’re especially proud of?
A: One of the clearest indicators of our program’s impact is the steady rise in our graduation rates across student groups who have historically faced barriers to success. In 2007, our four year cohort graduation rate was just 20%. Today, that rate has climbed to 88%. For bilingual students, we’ve consistently outperformed the state average, reaching graduation rates above 85% compared to Oregon’s 64%. Similarly, our students experiencing poverty and those receiving special education services have shown notable gains, graduating at rates significantly higher than state benchmarks. These outcomes demonstrate not only our commitment to equity but also the effectiveness of our intentional support systems in ensuring all students, regardless of background, can achieve academic success.
Q: How has being part of DLAC shaped your approach or inspired your work?
A: Being part of DLAC has been transformative in shaping our approach by connecting us with innovative practices and thought partners from across the country. The opportunity to collaborate with other leaders in digital and blended learning has inspired us to think more boldly about how we leverage technology to advance equity and access for all students. Seeing how other schools tackle challenges has reinforced our commitment to continuous improvement and encouraged us to expand strategies that have proven effective.
Q: If you could debunk one myth about digital learning, what would it be?
A: If I could debunk one myth about digital learning, it would be the idea that it is an isolating or individual experience. In reality, effective digital learning is highly collaborative and deeply social. Students engage in meaningful interactions with peers, teachers, and families through structured discussions, group projects, and regular check-ins that build community and shared accountability. Far from working alone behind a screen, our students are supported by a network of relationships that foster connection, belonging, and collective success.
Q: What’s something you wish you had known when you started with digital or hybrid learning?
A: Something I wish I had known when we first started with digital and hybrid learning is just how much intentional relationship-building drives student success. Early on, I assumed that strong digital tools and well-designed content would be enough to carry engagement. What I’ve learned is that the technology only works when it’s paired with structures that keep students, families, and educators consistently connected. Creating space for authentic interaction and accountability has been the key to ensuring students not only access learning but also feel seen, supported, and capable of thriving in a blended environment.
Q: What’s one thing you hope the future of digital learning will achieve, and how is your program paving the way for that vision?
A: I hope the future of digital learning will fully realize its potential to create equitable access and personalized pathways for every student, regardless of language, background, or circumstance.
Q: What’s one challenge your program has overcome, and how did you tackle it?
A: One challenge our program has overcome is the misconception that students in digital and hybrid learning environments would struggle to achieve at the same level as their peers in traditional schools. We tackled this by building intentional structures of support, centering equity, and ensuring that every student—whether bilingual, low-income, or receiving special education services—had access to personalized pathways and strong relationships with staff and families.
Q: What’s a unique aspect of your program or approach that sets it apart?
A: A unique aspect of Clackamas Web Academy that sets us apart is the way we integrate real world opportunities with personalized support systems. Every high school student engages in Youth Take Action (YTA) projects, where they design and implement community focused initiatives, developing both leadership and civic responsibility. Our Senior Internship Program provides hands-on career exploration, connecting students with mentors and professional experiences that prepare them for postsecondary success. In addition, our Early College Options (ECO) program allows students to earn substantial college credit while still in high school, reducing barriers to higher education and saving families thousands of dollars. These opportunities are woven together through our advisory system, ensuring that each student receives consistent guidance, goal setting, and reflection to maximize their growth. This holistic approach, academic, personal, and community centered, makes CWA distinctive and impactful.
Q: What’s a question that you would like us to ask the next organization we interview?
A: Tell us what is important to you. Replace this text with something you would want to know.